I was sitting on my deck earlier today, admiring the day, looking at my plants, thinking about life ... I was just chilling.

And I took special notice of the plant shown here. It's growing nicely and looks healthy, but I wondered if it would get bigger if I put it in another pot...

Would its flowers bloom larger, would the roots have more room to do what roots do if I were to take it out of its current location and put it in a bigger space?

In other words, would it do better and have an easier time reaching its full potential if I enlarged its territory?

And my mind immediately went to the goldfish. You remember how we were taught as kids that a goldfish will grow as large as the bowl you put it in. Put the fish in a tiny bowl, it will remain tiny. But if you enlarge its territory, it will grow to fit its territory.

Then, I thought about me... and you.

Because sometimes our territories can be defined as a state of mind.

If we think small, we will stay small, you know?

But as we expand our minds and embrace new and different possibilities -- as we expand our mental and emotional territories -- life will become a lot more interesting and I believe that blessings will flow.

So I imagined that pretty yellow flower saying to me... "Well Miss, I could ask you the same thing? Do you need a new pot?"

"Is the pot you're in large enough to hold all of your thoughts and aspirations? Or are you stifling yourself, your dreams, and your possibilities, by keeping yourself in that same, comfortable pot you've been in for years?"

I attended a blogging conference this weekend, an event I was very excited about.

I was looking forward to being in a room full of people doing what I'm doing and thought I'd learn a lot and make great contacts.

One out of three ain't bad.

The sessions were very informative and my desire to learn new things about the world of blogging was definitely satisfied.

But I didn't truly connect with anyone -- not one solitary soul.

I wasn't completely shocked. I'd been on the Facebook page created for this conference and the entries shocked me. These were obviously very smart women, but they were exchanging messages that made them sound like college sorority girls. Most were wondering where alcohol could be purchased. One woman asked, and I quote, "Who else is going to be on their period during the conference?" And what's worse is that people responded!

Well I never!

Had it not been for the fact that the sessions sounded so interesting, I really do think I would have backed out of this event, the Facebook posts really turned me off.

However I knew that I had a lot to learn and I'd paid for it, so I went. I'm glad I did because I learned new things, it was time well spent. But...

I learned one thing that I would have rather not known.

I learned that, contrary to the image I have of myself in my head, I am officially middle-aged.

I don't know when it happened, my permission was not requested, it just crept up on me like a thief in the night. At some point during the past few years, while I slept, I became middle-aged, and here's how I knew that must be what had happened to me...

My 7 Signs of Middle Age

- I had no need for the Pampers they were giving out at registration- I didn't want to drink during or after the conference- I didn't openly curse- My hair was all the same color (except for a few stray gray hairs)- My underwear was not exposed- My clothes matched- I took notes using paper and a pen

I could go on, but I think you get the point. These, for me, were my 7 signs of middle age. I'm not sure how I feel about them, but... oh well, they're mine and the alternative isn't looking so hot either, so I'm just glad to still be here.

What signs have you seen or felt that let you know that you're getting a little older?

Hello and Welcome to my blog!

I'm a grown up "church girl" who is bouncing back from some hard blows, including an ugly divorce, financial hardship, and dreams deferred. Now, more than ever before, I am embracing the idea of transformation and beautiful new beginnings.